mangalore today

Rosario Cathedral architecture analysed and exhibited by winners Srinivas College in city


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 21 2019: Church architecture exhibition on January 20, Sunday was a uniqie first in the city, it was held at the Rosario Cultural Hall the enitre day and is said will continue today January 21, Monday for a short time.


Rosario


Rosario


Rosario


Rosario


Rosario


Rosario


Rosario


Rosario


Organized by the members of the Parish 0f the Rosario Cathedral in the old quarters of the city,  as one of the celebrations of 450 years of the of the Rosario Church,  The Celebration of the day began with the mass at the Church. Rev. Fr Antony Shera, Secretary of Catholic Board of Education, Mangalore Diocese celebrated the mass with priests of the parish.

The run up to this form of expo happened in the back drop of the  students of the department of the architecture of Srinivas Engineering College had taken part in National Architecture competition at New Delhi and they won first place with drawings of Rosario  Cathedral Mangaluru. The students of the Srinivas Engineering College had taken major role in exhibiting various drawings of the architecture of the Rosario  Cathedral Mangaluru built between 1910 and 1915 by Jesuits priests. They presented detailed informative analytical drawings of this  Cathedral which they had presented for the preliminary rounds too, which finally got them the National first prize.

Church architecture refers to the architecture of buildings of Christian churches. Evolving near two thousand years of the Christianity, partly by innovation and partly by imitating other architectural styles as well as responding to changing beliefs, practices and local traditions - today in India Churches focusing on Indian culture are common. In Mangalore the new churches that have recently come up are an eye opener.  From the birth of Christianity to the present, the most significant objects of transformation for Christian architecture and design were the great churches of Byzantium, the Romanesque abbey churches, Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance basilicas with its emphasis on harmony. These large, often ornate and architecturally prestigious buildings were dominant features of the towns and countryside in which they stood.


However, far more numerous were the parish churches in Christendom, the focus of Christian devotion in every town and village. While a few are counted as sublime works of architecture to equal the great cathedrals and churches, the majority developed along simpler lines, showing great regional diversity and often demonstrating local vernacular technology and decoration. In recent times churches in India have visibly taken an indigenous shape, in keeping with the ’inculturation’ trends of the Catholic Church.  For instance the ’Boat Church’ at Kalmady on our coast, and many many more all over India.

Rev. Dr Ronald Serrao, the Dean and Professor of Liturgy of St Joseph seminary inaugurated the exhibition and spoke on the importance of the architecture of the Church and explained various types of architecture, and how it has influenced the liturgy and the way of life of the people in the Catholic Church. He also said that we need to give importance to the church architecture when we build new Church buildings. He stressed that knowledge Theology was of great use in planning and executing these sacred structures and many famous architects are priests from time immemorial.  He also said that this is one of the unique and first exhibition on Church architecture exhibition arranged by the members of the Rosary Cathedral in the diocese of Mangalore. He lauded the effort and technical presentation by the department of Architecture of Sridevi College for the initiative.  Along with the architectural drawings, audio visuals on the Church architecture were arranged at the venue. The program is attracting and making aware a large number of people of the city.

Frs, Flavian Lobo - the Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Rocky Fernandez - the Principal of Rosario Management College, Fr Victor D Souza - the principal of PU College, Fr Paul D Souza from Sullia, Fr Anil Fernandes - of the Minor Seminary, Mr C J Simon the Vice president  and Mrs Elizabeth Roach the secretary of the Pastoral Parishad, and a large gathering of people was on hand.

Ms Caroline D’ Souza,  the leader and animator is the associate professor of Srinivas Engineering College of architecture and a dedicated team of students who were the key players and the focus of the event.